Aghori Cult in India

The cult that practiced Cannabilsim

Neha
3 min readFeb 1, 2024
Aghori cult member

Background

The meaning of Aghori in Sanskrit is ‘not-fearful’, ‘fearless.’ This cult is known to come about from an ascetic in the 17th century known as Baba Keenaram. The leader lived till 170 years old.

The Aghori cult is known to reside near cremation sites. They follow a sector of Hinduism that is over 1000 years old. The cremation site the cult members live near is famously known as Varanasi. Varanasi was also where Baba Keenaram was buried, which is why this site was sacred to all cult members. However, members of this cult have also been found in cold caves, deserts and dense jungles all around India. This cult is primarily based in Uttar Pradesh, India.

The most famous practice of the Aghori cult is cannabilism. They’re known to feast on the flesh of corpses brought to the cremation site. Most of the time they eat the flesh raw, but occasionally, they cook it over an open fire.

The cult members are referred to as, Sadhus who are known as “holy men.” Sadhus are similar to monks.

Holy Beliefs

These monks have dedicated their entire lives to liberation and achieving it. However, they follow one of the most unconventional paths to this liberation. Their path to this freedom and…

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